Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. leaves Mayo Clinic

Posted at: 11/13/2012 7:35 PM
By SARA BURNETT and SOPHIA TAREEN

(AP) CHICAGO - Questions about Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s health and political future swirled again Tuesday as the Chicago congressman left the Mayo Clinic for the second time but didn’t disclose where he was going, even as Congress returned from a seven-week election break.

The Democrat, who was easily re-elected last week, has been on a hushed medical leave since June for treatment of bipolar disorder and other medical issues. Neither his staff nor his family has given updates about when or if he’s expected to return to work.

The latest development in Jackson’s mysterious absence comes amid a continuing House Ethics Committee investigation into his dealings with imprisoned ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, along with reports of a new federal probe into possible misuse of campaign money and pressure from Illinois’ top public officials for an update.

"Given the election is over, I think it’s important for him to tell his constituents and tell the public where he stands," Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn said Tuesday at an unrelated event. "It’s time for him to speak."

However, few details were available Tuesday about Jackson’s condition or whether he was in his Chicago-area congressional district, his home in Washington or somewhere else.

Mayo Clinic spokesman Nick Hanson said Jackson was no longer a patient at the hospital in Rochester, Minn., but he did not know where the congressman was going. Jackson’s father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, told some media outlets that his son had not left the hospital. He did not return multiple messages seeking comment.

The congressman’s Washington-based spokesman Frank Watkins said Jackson had not checked into his Washington office. He did not have further information. And two of Jackson’s Illinois colleagues in the Black Congressional Caucus _ Reps. Danny Davis and Bobby Rush _ said through spokeswomen that they had not heard from him.

Jackson, 47, disappeared in June, and it was later revealed that he was being treated at the Mayo Clinic for bipolar disorder and gastrointestinal issues. He returned to his Washington home in September, but went back to the clinic the next month, with his father saying his son had not yet "regained his balance."

The congressman had returned to the hospital amid reports that he faced a new federal investigation into potential misuse of his campaign finances. The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the probe, citing anonymous sources. An FBI spokesman in Washington, Andrew Ames, told The Associated Press he could neither confirm nor deny the existence of federal investigation into Jackson.

Jackson was easily re-elected on Nov. 6 representing his heavily-Democratic district, even though his only communication with voters was a robocall asking them for patience. He spent election night at the Mayo Clinic, but later issued a statement thanking his supporters and saying he was waiting for his doctors’ OK before he could "continue to be the progressive fighter" they’d known for years.

The timing of the leave and the way it was handled has invited scrutiny. Jackson’s leave was announced just after a former fundraiser connected to the Blagojevich allegations was arrested on unrelated medical fraud charges.

The House Ethics Committee is investigating reports that Jackson and his associates discussed raising money for Blagojevich in exchange for the then-governor appointing Jackson to President Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat. Blagojevich is now imprisoned on corruption charges that accused him among other things of trying to sell the seat.

On Tuesday, Quinn became the latest elected official to urge Jackson to speak publicly. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Monday called on Jackson to let constituents know his post-election plans. U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said reports of a new probe were troubling but he didn’t have all the facts.

The uncertainty about Jackson’s future prompted more talk of potential successors if he should step down. If that happens, the governor would have to call a special election.

Prominent Chicago attorney Sam Adam Jr., who once represented Blagojevich and R&B Singer R. Kelly, told the Chicago Sun-Times on Tuesday that he’s considering a run for the seat.

Also, some leaders in Jackson’s district _ which includes some Chicago neighborhoods and suburbs _ said they wanted to push forward on his pet project of a third airport in the Chicago area without the congressman.